“Education Goes Beyond Sitting in a Classroom and Listening to Lectures” – Nana Yaa Serwaa II

The Queen Mother of the Asante Students Union at the University of Ghana, Nana Yaa Serwaa II, has urged students to embrace practical and entrepreneurial skills as a pathway to financial independence amid rising graduate unemployment.

Speaking ahead of the Union’s Skills Training and Exhibition Initiative, she said education should not be limited to classroom lectures but should also equip students with hands-on skills that can generate income and prepare them for life after university.

She explained that the initiative was introduced after observing the financial challenges many students face on campus, with some relying heavily on their parents to meet basic needs. According to her, acquiring practical skills can help students become financially independent while pursuing their studies.

The training, scheduled to begin on June 19, 2026, at the Akuafo Hall Gardens, will be offered free of charge. Participants will also receive tools and equipment upon completion to help them establish their own businesses.

Nana Yaa Serwaa II encouraged students to move beyond the mindset of depending solely on government employment, stressing that individuals also have a responsibility to create opportunities for themselves through entrepreneurship and innovation.

The initiative forms part of the Asante Students Union’s broader efforts to equip students with employable skills, promote self-reliance and prepare them for success beyond the classroom.